World Victory Road "Sengoku VII" Results
by Robert Sargent
In one of the best events to take place in the past year, World Victory Road began their debut Featherweight Grand Prix in style at "Sengoku VII," which also featured a light heavyweight bout between Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal and Ryo Kawamura.
Among the participants in the thrilling grand prix bouts, Nick Denis, Nam Phan, Masanori Kanehara and tournament favourite Hatsu Hioki were all victorious.
Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs Ryo Kawamura
Remaining undefeated, Lawal picked up a lopsided Unanimous Decision victory over Kawamura, then once again endeared himself to the Japanese public after the fight.After an early exchange of jabs, Lawal scored a takedown and evaded a Kimura attempt. He took Kawamura's back, but Kawamura stood up. Lawal landed knees in a clinch, then scored another takedown. Kawamura tried to stand up again, but was picked up and slammed upside-down on the mat. Lawal punished him with punches in a clinch, then took Kawamura's back once more. Lawal scored a brief takedown and landed punches, then repeated the process seconds later. Again, Lawal took Kawamura down, and Kawamura tried for a Kimura. The fighters were separated and Kawamura rushed forward with punches. Lawal ducked down, but reversed position and took Kawamura's back again. The fighters separated and traded punches, and Lawal scored yet another takedown. Kawamura landed a few mini punches on the ground, which Lawal replied to with a series of hard lefts. The bell rang to end the one-sided round. 10-8 Lawal.
Jabs were once again exchanged early in round two, as the fighters circled each other. Time was briefly called after Lawal inadvertently poked Kawamura in the eye. Action resumed, but Lawal once again poked Kawamura in the left eye. This time, he was given a Yellow Card. After a restart, Kawamura tried for a body kick, but was drilled with a flying knee to the chest. Lawal caught a kick from Kawamura and pushed him to the ground. Lawal took Kawamura's back and landed three knees to the thigh. Kawamura escaped, but was promptly taken down again. More knees and punches landed for Lawal. The fighters separated and Kawamura landed a nice one-two, but was taken down again. Lawal landed punches and knees from the top before Kawamura stood again. Lawal maintained a clinch until the bell, landing knees and lefts throughout the final minute. 10-9 Lawal.
Kawamura pressed forward with punching combinations in round three, but was expectedly taken down. He fought back to his feet, where the fighters traded knees in a clinch. Lawal scored another takedown and Kawamura looked for a Kimura. Kawamura stood up in the corner and Lawal landed knees to the legs and body. Kawamura evaded a suplex attempt, but was taken down anyway. Kawamura spun free and fired off a series of punches, but Lawal clinched and landed a knee. Lawal scored a takedown and went back to knees. Near the end of the round, Kawamura was nearly knocked out by a particularly vicious slam that saw him land on his head, but he survived the slam and follow-up punches. Kawamura tried to score with a punching flurry shortly before the bell, but was taken down yet again. Good effort from Kawamura, but he was never able to mount any offence. 10-9 Lawal.
After the fight, Lawal brought a fan into the ring for the now-famous "King Mo!" chants, and managed to once again get a less than enthusiastic referee to also participate. Hilarious.
Winner: Muhammed Lawal by Unanimous Decision (30-24, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 4-0-0.
"Big" Jim York vs James "The Colossus" Thompson
In a back-and-forth one-round slugfest, York finally got the better of Thompson with a left cross late in the first round that ended Thompson's night in a flash.Thompson rushed forward with his trademarked "Gong And Dash" strategy, but missed with a lunging punch and was caught with a trio of counters. York teed off with big punches, rocking Thompson with a left hook and then dropping him with another left seconds later. Thompson fought to his feet and scored a partial takedown, but York countered and locked on a guillotine choke. Thompson scored another partial takedown and ended up in a second guillotine choke. He got up and the fighters traded big punches. York landed a flurry of three punches, which forced Thompson to clinch for a takedown. York defended, but was rocked by a big left hook from Thompson. York then went into survival mode and clinched against the ropes.
Thompson locked on a Thai clinch and landed a few knees, and the fighters traded punches again. After a separation, both landed haymakers, with Thompson pressing the action. He clinched and landed short punches, but was caught with a combination as York backed away. York sent Thompson flying with a left cross, and the referee jumped in to stop the fight.
Winner: Jim York by KO (Punch) at 4:33 of round one. He improves to 10-2-0.
Tournament Bouts
Hatsu Hioki vs Chris Manuel
Showing why he is the overwhelming favourite to win the tournament, Hioki took Manuel down and dominated the ground battle before securing a fight-ending armbar late in round one.Hioki pushed forward with a kick and punches, then scored a takedown. He moved to half-guard and landed short punches, then passed to mount. Hioki looked to trap Manuel in an arm-triangle choke, but took his back instead. Hioki transitioned to an armbar, but Manuel somehow escaped and got to his feet. Hioki quickly clinched in the corner, then scored another takedown. Hioki attempted a keylock from side-control, then used it to move to mount. Manuel avoided danger from submissions, but Hioki landed punches from the top. From side-control, Hioki isolated Manuel's arms, then spun right into an armbar and a triangle choke. When Manuel did not immediately submit to the choke, Hioki simply moved into a triangle armbar that forced a quick tapout. Extremely dominant and impressive win for Hioki.
Winner: Hatsu Hioki by Submission (Triangle Armbar) at 4:12 of round one. He improves to 18-3-2.
Nam Phan vs Hideki Kadowaki
Rebounding after his highly controversial Split Decision loss to Billy Evangelista last year, Phan used effective striking to score a huge knockout midway through round one.Phan immediately targeted the face of Kadowaki with quick combinations of punches in round one, but Kadowaki replied with front kicks and stiff jabs. Phan began landing left hooks to the body, which he incorporated into his combinations. More flurries of head and body shots landed for Phan, but Kadowaki landed a one-two and targeted Phan's midsection as well. Kadowaki scored with a series of left jabs, then landed a one-two to the body. Phan replied with two combinations of his own. Phan backed Kadowaki into the corner and landed quick punches and an uppercut. Kadowaki moved out and began to back away, but Phan floored him with a diving right hook. Phan landed follow-up punches on the ground before the referee waved off the fight.
Winner: Nam Phan by TKO (Punches) at 3:09 of round one. He improves to 15-5-0.
Michihiro Omigawa vs L.C. Davis
Coming into the fight with nothing to lose, Omigawa shocked the world by completely dominating the massively favoured Davis, en route to a lopsided Unanimous Decision victory.The fighters circled each other and looked to set up combinations in the opening minute, and Davis connected with a one-two. Omigawa clinched and looked for a takedown against the ropes. Davis fought it off initially, but Omigawa secured the takedown and landed in half-guard. Omigawa landed numerous short punches to the liver, then passed to side-control. Omigawa used knees to the body to set up a pass to mount. Davis held Omigawa in place and prevented him from doing much damage, but Omigawa managed to posture up and quickly took Davis's back. Omigawa transitioned back to mount and landed punches from the top. He locked on a tight armbar and had Davis in all sorts of trouble, but the bell sounded to save Davis. Complete domination. 10-9 Omigawa.
Davis landed a pair of solid combinations in the early stages of round two, but Omigawa held strong and fired back with kicks. Omigawa clinched and managed to secure a takedown against the ropes. Omigawa locked on a weak guillotine choke from the top, but Davis scrambled and took top position. He stood up and landed kicks, and Omigawa rose to his feet. Davis came forward with combinations, but Omigawa landed a one-two and a hard knee to the body. Omigawa landed a nice kick and attempted a body shot, and the fighters clinched in the corner. Davis landed knees to the body until the referee separated them. They clinched in the corner a second time, where both fighters landed knees. Much closer round, but 10-9 Omigawa for the takedown and top control.
Davis once again looked to land combinations in round three, but Omigawa evaded the strikes and clinched in the corner. He scored another takedown and landed in half-guard. Davis regained guard, but Omigawa punished him with punches from the top. Omigawa stood up and landed two punches, then dove into side-control. Davis attempted to stand up, but Omigawa first locked on an anaconda choke and then quickly switched to a tight guillotine choke. Omigawa fell back on the choke, then moved to a reverse armbar when Davis did not submit. Omigawa used the armbar to flip Davis over. From mount, Omigawa landed hammerfists as Davis tried desperately to escape. Omigawa postured up and landed bigger punches as Davis attempted to roll over. Omigawa had none of it and retained top position until the bell. Once again, total domination. 10-9 Omigawa.
All three judges scored the bout in favour of Omigawa, who picks up the monumental upset and the biggest win of his career, by far.
Winner: Michihiro Omigawa by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-28, 30-28) after three rounds. He improves to 5-7-1.
Marlon Sandro vs Matt "Jagger Bomb" Jaggers
After controlling much of the first round on the ground, Sandro choked Jaggers unconscious with an extremely impressive standing kata-gatame arm-triangle choke midway through round two.Both fighters landed one-twos in the opening seconds, and Sandro quickly clinched and scored a takedown. Sandro used a partial slam to pass to half-guard, then looked to move to mount. Jaggers scrambled and attempted to take top position, but both fighters stood up and exchanged strikes. Sandro scored with a pair of overhand rights, then secured another takedown. Sandro once again passed to half-guard and looked to move to mount. This time, Jaggers reversed and landed knees from north-south position. Sandro replied with a reversal of his own, then moved from side-control to mount. Jaggers flipped Sandro over and maintained top position for the final ten seconds. 10-9 Sandro.
Sandro followed up a quick flurry with a spinning back kick, then easily took Jaggers down. As in round one, the fighters scrambled for position, but Sandro managed to stay on top and worked from half-guard. Sandro moved to side-control and landed short knee strikes to the head, then moved back to half-guard and worked for an arm-triangle choke. Jaggers stood up to escape the choke, but Sandro locked on another one from a standing position. Sandro pressed Jaggers into the corner while maintaining the choke, and Jaggers soon fell forward to the mat, unconscious. The referee immediately stopped the fight. Very impressive submission from Sandro.
Winner: Marlon Sandro by Technical Submission (Standing Arm-Triangle Choke) at 2:57 of round two. He improves to 13-0-0.
Masanori "Kin-chan" Kanehara vs Jong Man Kim
In a solid fight that was closer than the outcome would suggest, Kanehara's kicks and submission attempts were enough to take a Unanimous Decision win.Kim opened the action with a left hook and a one-two seconds later. Kanehara fired back with kicks to the legs and body. Stiff leg kicks found their mark for Kanehara, and he landed a hard right cross soon after. Kanehara landed more kicks to the legs, but Kim replied with three quick combinations that set off a wild exchange of punches. Kanehara continued to target the legs of Kim, but Kim rushed forward with a flurry of big punches that backed Kanehara against the ropes. Kanehara fired back with a combination of his own, then dropped Kim with a head kick and three quick punches. Kanehara maintained top position until the bell, but was unable to do any more damage. 10-9 Kanehara.
Kanehara went right back to targeting the lead leg of Kim in round two, but Kim continued to press forward with punches. Kim's left eye began to swell, but that did not slow down his offence. An exchange in the corner ended with Kanehara landing a knee to the chest. Kanehara clinched against the ropes and tried for a takedown, but Kim reversed into a judo throw. Kanehara regained top position, but found himself in a guillotine choke. He escaped and moved to mount, then tried for an arm-triangle choke. Kim squirmed and escaped, but Kanehara maintained mount. Kim swept and took top position, then landed short punches before Kanehara stood up. The fighters exchanged punches and Kanehara landed a body kick. Kim rushed forward with looping punches, then defended a takedown and locked on a very tight guillotine choke. However, the bell rang and potentially saved Kanehara. Close round. 10-9 Kanehara.
Kanehara opened round three with another stiff leg kick, which prompted Kim to rush forward with a wild flurry. More leg kicks landed for Kanehara, but Kim maintained quick movement and continued to push forward. Kim knocked Kanehara off-balance with a one-two, but Kanehara quickly recovered. Kim landed another one-two and ducked a head kick, and both fighters landed big shots in an exchange. Kanehara drilled Kim with a kick to the chest, but Kim scored a takedown. From top position, Kim landed punches and then transitioned into a guillotine choke. Kanehara escaped and looked to set up an arm-triangle choke. He abandoned the choke and moved to mount, then took Kim's back very briefly in a scramble. The fight returned to the feet, where the overzealous referee halted the action to warn both fighters for alleged inactivity. Action resumed and both fighters threw their best strikes, with Kim landing a series of hard punches and Kanehara replying with a pair of head kicks. Kanehara managed to score a takedown shortly before the bell, but it was Kim who relentlessly punched from the bottom. Another close round. 10-9 Kim.
The judges unanimously awarded the fight to Kanehara, who advances in the tournament.
Winner: Masanori Kanehara by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-28, 30-29) after three rounds. He improves to 12-5-5.
"The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung vs Shintaro Ishiwatari
Though it lasted less than one round, this fight was one of the best of the year and ended with Jung securing a rear naked choke late in round one that left Ishiwatari unconscious.Jung landed a big right cross to begin the fight, then rushed forward with more punches and a knee. He landed a leg kick and another right cross, then ducked a head kick from Ishiwatari. The fighters exchanged punches and Ishiwatari landed a nice right hook. Both landed huge punches in an exchange, and Jung mixed in knees in a clinch. Jung was relentless as he landed a one-two and dropped Ishiwatari with a lunging hook. Jung used a front choke to keep Ishiwatari down, then moved to side-control and trapped Ishiwatari's arms. Ishiwatari scrambled back to his feet and landed a head kick. A trio of massive right hooks landed for Ishiwatari, which would easily have knocked out any number of fighters, but Jung amazingly seemed to be completely unfazed.
Ishiwatari continued to swing for the fences and began to taunt Jung, but Jung more than held his own and fired back big punches in return. Jung staggered Ishiwatari with a right hook, but Ishiwatari recovered and landed a flying knee to the body. More punches were exchanged as the non-stop action continued. Jung landed a nice kick, but was nearly dropped by a counter right hook from Ishiwatari. The fighters clinched in the corner, then voluntarily separated before the referee even called for a break. Ishiwatari drilled Jung with a left hook, but was dropped to one knee by a counter from Jung. Ishiwatari retreated to the corner, but Jung pounced and took his back, then dragged him to the ground and locked on a rear naked choke. Ishiwatari tapped out one second before going to sleep. Absolutely amazing fight.
Winner: Chan Sung Jung by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:29 of round one. He improves to 6-0-0.
Ronnie Mann vs Tetsuya "Super High School Student" Yamada
This back-and-forth battle of striking and submissions ended after fifteen minutes of action, with Mann taking an ulra close but Unanimous Decision win over the 18-year-old rising star, Yamada.Mann blasted Yamada with a quick flurry of punches, then defended a takedown. Yamada attempted a head kick, but Mann ducked and landed a right cross. Yamada tried for a takedown and managed to muscle Mann to the ground. Mann used a sweep to reverse position into mount. He took Yamada's back and secured a body triangle, then landed punches to Yamada's head. Yamada rolled over and Mann wound up in mount again. The fighters scrambled and Yamada looked for a heel hook. Mann twisted and escaped, then took top position once again. Yamada attempted a triangle choke and a triangle armbar, but Mann got to his feet. Yamada dove for a flying scissor heel hook, but switched to a kneebar instead. When that failed, Yamada locked on a heel hook and an ankle lock. Mann rolled and escaped, then looked for a kneebar of his own. Mann landed strikes from the top before the bell. Too close to call. 10-10.
Mann landed another big overhand right to begin round two, then took Yamada's back. The fighters fell to the mat, where Mann retained a body lock and avoided a Kimura attempt from Yamada. Mann tried to posture up to land punches, but Yamada prevented him from doing any damage. The fight returned to the feet and Yamada landed kicks to the body, then attempted a flying knee. Mann caught him and threw him to the mat, then landed punches from the top. Mann moved to half-guard and Yamada attempted another Kimura. Mann postured up and Yamada unleashed a pair of vicious upkicks. Both fighters stood up and Mann dragged Yamada to the mat again. He landed punches until Yamada got to his feet. Yamada landed a jumping body kick, but Mann used the opportunity to score another takedown. Yamada fought his way to his feet, but was picked up and slammed. Mann evaded another Kimura before the bell. Another close round, but 10-9 Mann.
Mann shot in for an early takedown in round three and nearly had his head taken off by a massive kick from Yamada. Mann shook it off and landed a one-two, then secured the takedown. Yamada attempted a triangle choke, then postured up and locked on a modified Kimura at the same time. He used this to sweep Mann and moved to mount, but Mann escaped and reversed again. From half-guard, Mann landed small punches. Yamada regained guard and looked briefly for an omoplata. Mann powered out and stood up. The fighters exchanged head kicks, but Yamada slipped and fell to the canvas. Mann landed a few strikes, then allowed Yamada to stand. Yamada fell after eating a right cross from Mann. Once again, Mann threw a handful of punches and let Yamada get back up. Yamada drilled Mann with another huge head kick, but Mann shook it off a second time and scored another takedown. Both fighters looked for heel hooks and ankle locks on the ground, but neither found success. Yamada landed punches from the top until the bell. As in the past rounds, very close call. 10-9 Mann.
In the end, all three judges saw the razor-thin fight in favour of Mann, but the difference came down to a single round.
Winner: Ronnie Mann by Unanimous Decision (30-29, 30-29, 30-29) after three rounds. He improves to 16-1-1.
"The Ninja of Love" Nick Denis vs Seiya Kawahara
This battle of strikers ended predictably with a knockout, as Denis twice floored Kawahara in round one and finished the fight with ground and pound.Denis, the reigning King of the Cage Canadian Bantamweight Champion, came out aggressively with kicks in the opening seconds, then landed a one-two. He followed up with knees in a clinch, then dropped Kawahara with a head kick. Denis rushed forward and peppered Kawahara with knees to the body in a Thai clinch, then pressed him into the corner. After exchanging strikes, the fighters separated and both landed combinations. Denis scored with another head kick, then landed four consecutive punches that dropped Kawahara again. Denis dove into side-control and landed knees, hammerfists and punches until the referee stopped the fight. Very impressive win.
Winner: Nick Denis by TKO (Knees & Punches) at 2:36 of round one. He improves to 7-0-0.
World Victory Road may lack the big-name talent possessed by DREAM and other promotions, but its inaugural Featherweight Grand Prix is arguably the best tournament of 2009.
